Portable power saw having oppositely reciprocating blades



June 24, 1958 c. E. KIRKsEY PORTABLE POWER SAW HAVING OPPOSITELY RECIPROCATING BLADES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10. 1955 QQQ mi m c. E. KlRKsEY PORTABLE POWER SAWV HAVING OPPOSITELY June 24, 1958 840,125

' REcIPRocATING BLADES Filed llay 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/VEn/Toe:

June 24, 1958 C. E. KIRKSEY 2,840,125

PORTABLE POWER SAW HAVING OPPOSITELY RECIPROCATING BLADES Filed May 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Shea?l 5 HTTQEME .s

2,840,12 Patented June v24,l ,1 958 PORTABLE'POWERISAWEHAVINGPPOSITELY RECIPRQCATING'BLADES lCi1'a`rles"E.'Kirksey; Paducah," Ky.,.assignor` of "one-tenth.

-to 'Wallen Threlkeidiand whitlomPaducah, Ky., a'

partnership, wand Vone-tenth -to Jhn E.' Kirk'sey, "Padncah, Ky.

ApplicationMay 10, 1955, Serial'No; 507,323

l 6 Claims. A(Cl. 143-68) The presenti inventionfrelates generally `to Vcutting devices, and fmore'rparticularly'to a-,novel` portable power lsaw having `anvelongated blade assembly adapted -to cut throu'ghya tree, log, timber,.board,- or the like, without lthe necessity offdischarging -accumulatedsawdustfrom f thel kerf.

Briey, the present invention contemplates a power ndriven blade-assembly comprisingtwin oppositely reciprocable blades retained rin `contiguous relation by an elongated blade case which embraces the upper or back portions of the blades. .Thej Iblades themselves are formed vwithIa--novel arrangement of. cutting teeth and dust drags -vspaced so .as vto provide, channels for passage of sawdust generallyfvertically past the' blade assembly.

-Itis anfobject of the present'invention to,l provide a novelipower ,sawhaving an elongatedblade assembly k'adapted tofcut through trees, dogs, timbers,V boards, and :the like, leaving Acomparatively smoothk cut surfaces, on

each-side of the kerf. 'i K n, y

Itis anotherrobject ofthe inventionto provide a Anovel power saw having an -elongated blade'assembly which includes twin oppositely reciprocatingblades whicheliminateanytendency of; the saw tomove`longitudinally as a result of its own operation. r

It is another .object of lthetinvention to provide, a novel power saw having an elongated yblade assembly which includes a blade tooth arrangement permttingpassage of sawdustpast the bladeV assembly. t

It is' another object of the invention, toprovideanovel cutting assembly which- Iincludes imovable toothed elements surmounted byau stationary sheatlrmemberwhich eliminates the'` likelihood of injury `from inadvertent contactwth the-upper portion of the blade assembly.

The A"foregoing, along with )additional objectsk and-Aadvantages, will: be apparent from the following Adescription jtakenfin conjunctiomwith 'the accompanyingfdrawings, .inwhich: 1 Figure l1 is atop'planviewof a portablepower` saw conformingto 'the present invention; Y

:Figure 2 isa side `elevation thereof;

'Figure y3 is a fragmentaryV view generally 'similar to Figure 1, but 'withcertain cover portions'removed so .as to disclose operative elements of a drive mechanism;

`Figure 44 is an enlarged fragmentary -vertical` section rtaken,,generally along the lines fi-,44 ofl Figures. liand 3; .Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken lgeni orally-along the lines 5--5 ofFigures l, 3A and 4j -Figure 6 is lan Aenlarged vertical sectiontaken argen- -erally along the linesG-'-.ofgFigures 3 and '4;'

Eigurev 7.- is fan I enlarged fragmentary fvertical 4section takengenerallyfk along theflines 7-7 of'Figures `1 and 3;

Figure 8 is an enlargedvver'tical sectiontaken fgenerally alongfthelines'S-fS-ofl Figures'Z and 4;

.'Figuresv9, 1() (SheetvZ) and 'l1' (Sheet l)f are enlarged verticale sections taken,respectively,-along the lines-9&9,

- Figure V12 is-afagmentarysideielevationshowingi 'the free end of ablade case,fa portion ofA the-same being brokenaway to reveal the interior structure;

`Figure 13 (Sheet 2)- .is an exploded view of a retaining y assembly; 5

--Figure 14 (Sheet `1) -is a side elevation of a cutting Vblade,-showing the logside Vof the same;

vFigure 15 (Sheet 3) is a side elevation-of -a vcutting blade, showing the-side opposite that shown in Figure Figures 16,V 17, 18, 19 and 20 areenlarged'fragmentary vertical=sections taken, respectively, along the llines 14S- 16, 17-17, 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 of Figure l4;and f Figure 2l is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sec- `tionktaken-generallyalong lthe line 21-21 of Figure lReferringto the drawingsinvgreater detail through -theiuse of reference characters, the numeral desig- ;nates"generally a portablewpower saw constructed in l accordance vwith the-teachings of the present invention.

Broadly, the saw 30 comprises a prime mover 32, a-V drive -mechanism 3,4, and a blade assembly 36 disposed in consecutive -alignment as clearly illustrated in'Figures 1 KVand 2.

'TheY prime mover 32 may comprise any device, such as` aygasoline or an. electric motor of suitable size and appropriate.. power for actuating the drive mechanism Y .S4-and the bladeassembly 36in the manner to be described. -The illustrated .prime mover 32- includes `an electric motor'kS having a conventional clutch assembly 40 for selectivelyV establishing a power connection to .thefdrivemechanism ,34, as isvwellunderstood.

The unitary motor 38 and clutch assembly '40 aresupportedprimarily upon a bracket 42 extending rearward* Vly` vfrom a` lower housing 44Ywithin which the drive mechanismv34 is mounted. An upper housing or cover '46, secured vto the lower housing 44 Vby means of screws 48 completes the enclosure of the mechanism 34 and alsoprovde's an attachment `for the forward end of a lhan'dle bracket 50the rear end of which is secured to the housing of the motor'38. This arrangement not only provides connecting supportfb-e'tweenthe'housing of the mechanism '34'and' the prime mover 32, but also serves as 'a' handle at 'one end ofthe portable saw 30. The 'power 'connection between 'theprime mover as- 'seinbly 32 and 'the drive mechanism 34 comprises a 'shaft extensionSZkeyed to the driven element of the clutch assemblyr40and extending 'forwardly `into the ,"housing v44, 46 where it serves as an input shaft for the'mechanism' 34. "Itis, Yof course, understood that the present inventionfdoesnot' require a clutch between theV Nprimen'ioverand the drive'assembly and thatfasfatmat- .ter of fact,it'is"preferred ythat small size'electrically "operatedlsaws constructed vin accordance with the'inveni *the particular power :transmitting elements employed nthepres'ent yembodiment of-"the invention.y Thus, a `rear-"wall'SiVisfprovidedewith a cradle 56 for supporting a frictionles's bearing 58 retained by a bearingvcap 60.

Spaced forwardly jvof the lwall;` 54, a column 62 provided i' 'with a'cradleg64supports a frictionless bearing 66 retainedbyfa bearingcap 68. As is'clear from Figure 4,

theaforementioned shaft 52 is rotatably supported in f `the-bearingsfSS'andfi66.

AA worm`-isemountedon the shaft Yf52midway `bein its centered position. worm gear 76 is disposed in meshing engagement with the worm and is keyed by means of a key 78 to a sh`af`t80 rotatably supported in twin bearing cradles 82 extending longitudinally between the rear wall 54 and the column62.- Bearing :caps 84 cooperate with the cradles -82 in retaining the shaft 80. Each end of the `shaft terminates in a reduced portion 86 which is square in cross section andwhich mounts a crank disc 88 secured byv a cap screwr90 threadedly engaging the shaft 80. Each of the cranksdiscs 88 has a crankpin 92k secured eccentrically thereon so as to project outwardly'from the outer face*` thereof, and these pins 92l are preferably disposed l80 apart relative to the shaft 80.`

The forward part of the lower housing 44 is provided with a raised oor portion 94 to-which a pair of parallel rail elements 96 are secured'as best illustrated `in Figures 6 and 7. A forward pillar 98 and rear pillar 100 (Fig. 4), both integralwith the` housing 44, extend `upwardly Vbetween the parallel Vrails 96 and support hanger'bars 102 which extend laterally ofthe housing'44 so as, in turn, to support parallelrails 104 `secured tothe hangers 102 by screws 106. I

y The lower. rails96.and `the upper rails .104 are pref.-

erably formed tothe cross` section clearly illustrated in keyedto the shaftr l by` akey 72. Spacing collars 74 retain the worm 70 Figure 6 so as to cooperate in pairs for slidable reten- Y tion of elongated crosshead members 108 which project in parallel spaced relation forwardly throughindividual openingsl 110 provided Vin -a forward platejcovered wall 112 of the lower housing 44. This `projecting relation isy clearly illustrated in Figures 4 Yand 8.

Each of the crosshead members 108 has a pivot pin 114 secured therein' adjacent its rearwardly disposed end, and each lof` the pivot pins 114 mounts'the forward end of a` connecting rod 116. The rear ends of the connecting rods 116 pivotally engage a respective crank pin 92 secured to the crank disc 88 as aforementioned. Clearly, this arrangement of the driving mechanism 34is such as to provide, first, a speed reduction through the worm 70 and worm gear 76and, second, a conversion from the rotary motionof theworm gear? 76 `to oppositely reciprocating motionof the twin crosshead members 108.

Directing attention now to` the ,bladeassembly 36, a right hand cutting blade 120 and a left hand cutting blade 122 are disposed in side-by-side relation as best illustrated in Figure 34. Opposite sides of-the` cutting blade 120 are shown in Figures 14 and l5, respectively, and itwill be understood that the blade 122 is identical-.with the blade 120 except for being of opposite hand. -j Y. 4 Y Typical cross sections through the cutting blade 120 are illustrated in Figures 16 through 20, from which it e. will be observed that thevertical extent of the blade 120 t includes a lowerV toothed portion 124 which is relatively 4 thick and an upper back portion 126 which is relatively thin. `These portions 124 and 126 present a c oextensive inside face 128 for slidingengagement with a similar face on the' cutting blade 122. This arrangement, of course, provides an offset shoulder 130 adjacent the junction of the portions 124 and 126.` AIt will also be noted 'thatlthe blade 120 is tapered from an overall minimum trated in Figure 3. Spacing blocks 144 are interposed between the cutting blades and their respective cross head members 108, and `screws 146 extend through the individual members 108 -and blocks 144 to engage respective blades 120 and 122.

The portion of the blades 120 and 122 forwardly of the connecting portions is provided with teeth arranged as generally indicated in Figures 14 and l5. These figures, along with the cross lsections of Figures 16 through 20, show that there are five dilerent types of teeth incorporated in the blade 120. These five types of teeth may be further subdivided by function into three types of cutting teeth and two types of drag teeth. All of the cutting teeth was a generally similar triangular contour as viewed from the side (Figures 14 and 15), and each is adapted to cut the wood from the different porof the kerf. Thus, the numeral 148 designates an inside cutter, the numeral 150 designates a logside cutter, and the numeral 152 designates a grooving cutter.

Figure 16 shows the inside cutter 148 to be formed by tapering its outside, or logside face inwardly from the root or upper end of the tooth down to a point slightly above the lower cutting end then sharply increasing the taper down to the point of the tooth. AThe inside face of the tooth 148 is coincident with the inside face 128 ofthe lower portion 124. Figure 17 shows the logside cutter 150 to be formed to a similar, but reversed shape `as compared to the tooth 148. The grooving cutter 152 is illustrated in Figure 20 to have both its side faces tapered uniformly down to the cuttingI point.

The two types of drag teeth incorporated in the blade 120 include a logside drag 154 and aninside drag 156. It willbe observed from Figures 14 and 15 that while the Vlogside drag 154 has a `generally triangular shape as viewed from the side, the inside drag 156 is more in the nature of a trapezium. From Figures 18 and 19, it will be noted that both of the drag teeth 154 and'156 have a transverse horizontal` lower edge extending from an outside` face of the toothed portion 124 of the blade 120, but that these horizontal edges extend inwardly from opposite faces and have. opposite side edges tapered upwardly to provide clearance for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Particular attention is directed to that part of the blade portion 124 which is immedaitely forward of each of the drag teeth 154 and156, whence it will be noted that the logside facejis relieved so as to provide a channel 158 immediately ahead of the outside drag 154 and a channel 160 immediately ahead of the inside drag 156. vThe channels 158 and 160 are preferably shaped as clearly indicated'in lthe elevational view of Figure 14 andl in the cross-sectional views of Figures 18, 19 and 21. Attention is also directed to that part of the lower edge of the blade portion 124 which defines the channels 158 and 160, these lower edges being shaped to pro- 'vide inclined ramp faces 162 and 164 leading from the both a forward and a rear end cluster of teeth comprise alternate inside cutters 148 and outside cutters 150. ln-

thickness at the `top to anoverall maximum thickness` at the bottom Asshown in Figures 14 and 15, theV top edge of the back, portion 126 hasv spaced Vnotches l132 formed therein, andthese notches preferably take the illustrated, form wherein each` has a rear vertical face 134 and an" inclined forward face V136.V 1Anelongated slot 138 is providedV in the forward endY of the back portion, 126 as clearlyillustrated in these figures.-

The lower or toothed portions of the blades `120 and 122jeach include an untoothed'connecting portion 140 at the rear end; thisportion 140 beingprovided with threaded holes 142 by means of which the'blades `120 and 122 are securedtorespective crosshead members 108 as illustermediate these endclusters, however, the major ,cutting portionof the bladev has the teeth arranged in `the order of an inside cutter 148, a grooving cutter 152, andla logside cutter150, an outside drag `154, then a channel `158, an inside drag 156, and finally a channel 160, following which the' foregoing order is repeated over and over in accordance with the desired length of the blade assembly 36. f

In addition to the rear ends of the blades120 and 122 being retainedin reciprocable juxtapositionV as above noted, theforward ends, are retained in similar relation by means of a retaining assembly -comprising a `threaded guidemember 172, a guide Vwasher member 174.

and a'fflathead screw .176, ,all,a's,clealrlly illustrated` in 'the exploded view ofv'Eigure' 13. "The parts` thus enumerated* are assembled vtogether so, asy to engage the slots 138 of the juxtaposed blades '120 and L122;as`fillustratedbest in Figure l0. It will be understood, of 'course,"that"the dimensions .,of,;the, assembly; 1Z0fare.suchas to retain the forwardends of the npperg portions 1126' of the blades' 120 and 122 *inl'freelytslidable relation.

'A `blade case,180.slidably receivesfrthe continuous upperj portionsf126of.both.thecuttingr'blades 120an'd 122. The (arrangement is clearly shown'. in Figure 9, from which :it will be observed thatvthe `cast-:i180 includeszparal- =l`el side .plates `182 which. arev.iofxasthicknessl lessv than combinedz--thickness of the 4toothedyportionsr1124;:ofA the blades 120fand122.

lThegside plates 182of, thezfcaserl mayz'jbefformed .from a singleV sheet. of metal aseillustrated in :ithetdrawvvingsxor'fito-may ,be formedofdwofsheets with zazflling .lispacerA atstheuppenedgeras willgtbe'obvious to'those skilled in the art. In additionto having the top edge closed as illustratdthe casellsis provided with a Y --continuous#.fller strip 1784 disposedgparallel.itoathe top edge and spaced downwardlyw'there'from as illustrated in Figures 9, and l2. The strip 184 is provided with vertical holes 186 spaced over its'length as illustrated in vFigure 12. The side plates 182 of the case 180 are also provided with spaced holes or apertures 188 arranged as best shown in Figures 2 and 12. These holes 188 are located at the elevation attained by the top edge of the back portions 126 of the blades 120 and 122.

The rear end of the case 180 is provided with flanged mounting brackets 190 by means of which a secure attachment is made to the cover 46 of the drive mechanism 34. Preferably, guard members 192 formed to the shape clearly indicated in Figures l, 2 and 9 are secured, as by welding, to the outside of the case 180 at the forward end of the brackets 190.' These guards 192, thus located, are

nThe' cutting action of-theiblades`120'and 122 is' readily 4 ,kerf T heggrooving cutter'152cuts out'the portion interme'diate 'thatwhich is cutby the cutters 148'- and 1'50V a'nd. servestojproyide a ner, or less coarse, sawdust.

The drag .teetli 154 and'156 operate to', scoop up the dust thus Zcut from the log,.'or.the.like, and tof'direct 'it into the .channels'158 '.an'd'5160. .'Passage of the dustinto f lthese channels is,'of course,1facilitated by the ramp faces 162`and '2164. It will Vbe observed,'incidentally, Vthat'the cuttingteeth" 148, `150 and 152'extend belowthelower edges of the vdrag teeth 154'and 156, so that -the latter do not prevent thecutting teeth from preformingl their intendedfunction The major. portion 'of' the sawdust .'which enters the .channels 158"and'160'emerges at theI level of the shoulder 130 andthen,A due to the'aforementioned comparatively narrow width of' theblade casel180, isV enabled to pass Aoutside 'of the'latter 'and' to remain inthe kerf as. the

"blade assembly 36 moves through the log or the like.v

A"minor.'portion "of sawdusbmay nd its wayk into Y .the'ca'se` 180' 'between Vthe' 'platesV 1552,*but will ultimately ,f .emerge from the apertures' 188. "The notches -1'32jin the' upperedgesof the back portions^126 of -the`blades`120 just ahead of the forward limit of reciprocation of the' crosshead members 108 and the spacing blocks 144.

A handle 196' comprising a tubular hand portion v198 and a horseshoe-shaped receiving portion 200 adapted to t over the end of the case 180 in the manner illustrated in Figure 11 is provided for supporting the free forward end of the saw 30. Obviously, the use of a handle at the forward end of the blade assembly 36 is optional. Normally, such a handle -is preferred only for relatively long blade assemblies.

Figure 12 shows the forward end of the case 180 to be provided with a filler plate 202 for closing the longitudinal channel formed between the strip 184 and the upper closed edge of the case 180, and this filler 202 also provides a solid attachment for the handle 196, the latter being secured by a thumb screw 204 which passes through an aperture 206 formed in the case 180 and the filler plate 202 to engage a nut 208 on the outside of the portion 200 of the handle 196. Preferably, the portion 200 has integral skirt elements 210 extending downwardly in ared relation as shown in Figure l1 to serve 1 as guard elements at the forward end of the blade assembly 36. l

Operation The general mechanical operation of the portable power saw 30 will be obvious from the foregoing description and from'the accompanying drawings. Clearly, the saw 30 is portable from the handle 50 or from the combined handles 50 and 198. With the prime mover 32 in operation and the clutch 40 engaged, power will be delivered to the blade assembly 36' in a manner to reciprocate the juxtaposed blades 120 and.122, one blade moving forward as the other moves backward.

and 122 assist in moving this entrapped dust along inside the blade case 180 until it reaches the openings 188 therein. j

Lubrication of the reciprocating blades and 122 within the case is effected by introducing a suitable lubricant into the channel formed between the upper edge of the case 180 and the closing strip186 axed therein. The lubricant is introduced intothis'channel by means of a conventional hose or fitting 212 and is distributed along the blades 120 and 122 through the holes 186 in the strip 184.

Clearly, there has been provided a portable power saw which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given only by way lof illustration and example. It is further to be 'understood that changes in the form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and the substitution of equivalent elements, all of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, is contemplated `as being within the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable power saw, the combination of two cutting blades, each of said blades including an elongated toothed portion provided with integrally formed teeth, said teeth including cutting teeth and drag teeth, said toothed portions each having a planar inside surface for contiguous slidable engagement with the corresponding surface of the other, said toothed portions each having a planar logside surface which terminates at an upper ledge, said logside surface being provided with predeterminat'ely arranged channels extending from bottom to topr of the respective toothed portions, each of said channels being f immediately adjacent a respective drag tooth.

2. The combination of claim l wherein the toothed portion of each blade is provided with inside cutting teeth, f

cutting blades disposed in contiguous slidable relation with each other, each of said blades having a relatively thick lower tooth portion surmounted by a relatively thin upper back portion, the tooth and back portions of each blade including `a common vertical planar sliding yond the blade case.

the received upper edges'Y of .the blades for exhausting sawdust Afrom within thecase, and the upper longitudinal to emerge at said ledge, andan elongated Vbladefcalse having paralleliside plates'rinr embracing relation `,vt/itl; said back portions, the thickness offeach 4of vsaid side plates being less than the width offeither of said ledges," 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the total width fof the blade case ris less than the foverall width `f'both toothportions atthe levelofthe ledge, soi thatat,` least a portion. of the Aaforesaid channels extends laterally be- 6; In a portable power saw, the combination of a pair `of elongated cutting blades disposed in contiguous slidable relation with each other, each ofl said blades having la relatively ithin upper back'portion and a relatively thick lower tooth portion `arranged to provide'olls'et upper and lower'surfaces onfthe non-juxtaposed side `of :each blade, and an elongated blade-case comprising parallel sideplates disposedjinslidabl embracing relation over said side plates of the blade casebeing provided with longitudinally spaced apertures at the level attained by V25 the juxtaposed backV portions of the contiguous blades,

fedge" YofV eachblade being provided with 4a pluralityVof notches'for urgingfthe sawdust to thefvicinity of the Yindividual apertures. v

l `lnefvlrences cifedin the me qf thisY palm UNTTED STATES .PATENTS 139,426. Scholteld May 27, 1873 829,158 Keepfer Aug. 21, 1906 836,048 McIntosh Nov. V13, 1906 853,255V MillerQ- f May 14, 1907 869,182 Hotchkiss Oct. 22, 1907 1,491,134- 4DevNcvrthall Apr. 22, 1924 1,537,980 Asselin May `19, 1925 1,676,071 1Bolinder July. 3, 1928 1,690,803 Vander Wee Nov.` 6,r 1928 1,726,863 Singer Sept. 3, 1929 2,064,676 MacLeod Dec. l5, 1936 2,152,183 Fetterolf Mar. 28, 1939 2,284,693 lTompkins June 2, 1942 2,573,573 `Jenkins A oct. 30, 1951 2,594,997 VRinggold Apr.v 29, 1952 2,598,480 Wright` ...May 27, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 

